Meet the Heart of Whitewood Public Library

Our Dedicated Team

At Whitewood Public Library, our team is committed to fostering a love for reading and learning within our community. Meet the passionate individuals who make it all possible.

Deb Turhune

Library Director

Racine Morgan

Part Time Librarian

Donna Willson

Part Time Librarian

Olyn Smith

Part Time Librarian

Deb Terhune

Iowa was my home until we decided to sell our house, bought an RV, and traveled the country for 8 years. Florida was my favorite winter spot, and most summers were spent in the Black Hills.

In my career I was a branch manager for a national company, a Director at a college center, and Business Development Specialist for a non-profit serving disabled adults. I was involved in numerous volunteer activities including Make A Wish, Human Resource groups, President of a city board, hospital ICU, and many more. I am a graduate of Upper Iowa University with a degree in Marketing and HR Management.

My family includes two grown boys and one grandson. Most of my family live in Iowa and Wisconsin. When my kids were young I volunteered at their school on my lunch hour and coached many of their sports including softball and soccer. My own activities when I was younger included snowmobile racing, racing my Mustang at the local drag strip, camping, fishing, and sports. We also traveled thousands of miles each summer on our Harley. I still enjoy outside activities, trying to garden (or feed the deer), and going for rides in this beautiful area.

Once we moved to Whitewood, I wanted to work part time to meet people and wanted to find something I truly enjoyed ~ and working at the library was a perfect match!! The people have been so great, and we have the best group of employees and volunteers.

Racine Morgan

I was born in Torrington, Wyoming, graduated from Casper High School, then went to airline training school in Denver. I worked in the airline industry for about 50 years.

Met my husband while working for Continental Airline in El Paso, Texas. I’ve been married 53 years. He worked for Exxon and Peabody Coal, so we moved quite a few times. Went from Casper to Gillette to Columbia, South America and back to Gillette. I’ve traveled a lot of the world. I love history and worked for Hot Springs County Museum in Hermopolis, Wyoming. A lot of wonderful western history is in that area.

We have two sons with lovely wives. I wasn’t blessed with my own grandkids but enjoy a few step grandkids.

My hobbies are traveling, reading, camping, and gardening.

Donna Willson

I was born and raised in Western South Dakota. Living in Whitewood, I met and married Jim Willson, a local rancher 57 years ago.

We have two kids, Doug in Washinton and Melanie in Colorado. We have four awesome grandkids!

I worked alongside my husband helping with the cattle, hay crop, cooking, and enjoying a garden.

I applied and was hired in 1998 as a part time librarian at the Whitewood Public Library.

I retired in 2016 after 18 great years!

I had a chance to come on board again at the library in February of this year. I decided, why not! Always fun to go to work and to work with a great team!

Olyn Smith

I grew up on a ranch in Bolivia, South America, and spent hours reading as a child. I was always jealous of the librarians because they got to spend their whole day with books!

I moved to Chicago, IL to study Elementary Education at Moody Bible Institute. I met my husband Cory, got married, and graduated with my El Ed degree. I taught Kindergarten at a school in Chicago until we had our first child.

We moved to the Black Hills in 2021 to be closer to family in Montana, for my husband to take on a pastoral job in Spearfish, and to enjoy the wonderful outdoor activities. We absolutely love it here, and love living in Whitewood! We have three children ages 5 and under, and homeschool. Besides working for the library part time (a dream job!), I also tutor.

I still love reading and we are raising some avid book lovers! My favorite books to re-read are “Pride and Prejudice”, “Anne of Green Gables”, “Little Women”, “Screwtape Letters” and anything by James Herriot! Some of my kids’ favorite books include “Little Pilgrim’s Progress”, the Magic Treehouse Series, the Mercy Watson Series, “Charlotte’s Web” and “Little Blue Truck”.